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Hyundai moves closer to WRC return

Hyundai is looking to return to the WRC. This photo is one of the manufacturer's offerings from 2005. Photo by LAT PHOTOGRAPHIC

Hyundai's return to the FIA World Rally Championship will take another step forward when the firm's motorsport division opens a new base in Germany early next year.

The South Korean manufacturer announced in September that it would be embarking on a WRC comeback with a World Rally Car based on its i20 model.

Hyundai Motorsport has now confirmed it will open a new base in Frankfurt early into the New Year, while the identity of its team principal will also become known next month.

The i20 WRC ran in Europe for the first time at a test track in the German city earlier this month. The car – similar to the one being readied for Hyundai's arrival in the WRC in just 12 months – was given a warm reception.

Company spokesman Stefan Henrich admitted the timescale was short for the new car, but he said it fell entirely within a workable timeframe for a company of Hyundai's ability.

“Hyundai is very different from other manufacturers; not better, not worse, just different," Henrich said. "The development speed in Hyundai is very good. In an established company, you have the project and that project needs a process, to build, to prove to back-up, to get here… That's not our way. Our way is: that's the job? Then tomorrow morning we are done. This is what we will apply to getting the i20 WRC ready.”

He continued: “Things are moving quickly now, we have agreed a contract with the team principal and we are in the process of moving everything over to the new factory in Frankfurt, this is very exciting time for Hyundai.”